The Incredible Health Benefits of Glutathione
Hello, I am Julie Donaldson and I am a clinical nutritionist with functional health training. I specialize in restoring balance in complex, chronic and acute health conditions. I welcome you to peruse other articles that may be of interest to you in your health investigation!
“When you need the best, you come here. With the beginnings of fatty liver disease, neurological problems and just feeling exhausted all the time, I needed the best. And I got it from Julie.”
Glutathione is a powerhouse. It is one of few endogenous (self-produced) antioxidants in the body. But, in order to produce glutathione, your body needs numerous cofactors as well as a healthy liver, immune system and mitochondria. If you’re in an acute situation that requires immediate availability of glutathione and you are unaware of cofactor status and/or liver status, you may need other options. Here, we’ll discuss what glutathione is, the myriad of health benefits that come from glutathione and how to ponder which options are best for your personal health picture.
What is glutathione?
Glutathione is an antioxidant produced in the liver through enzymatic reactions with the amino acids cysteine, L-glutamic acid and glycine. It helps repair cells damaged by pollution, stress and other harmful influences. It is an undeniably important and serious player in body chemistry/health..
Mice unable to form glutathione will die before birth; mice that have been genetically altered to not produce glutathione in the liver will die after one month. People with mutations in the enzymes that form glutathione are more susceptible to oxidative stress. Deficiency in the production of glutathione leads to break down of red blood cells, enlargement of the spleen, gall stones and after many years can lead to mental deterioration.
Glutathione is an important physiological chelator, and the reduced form of glutathione also protects cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with heavy metals.
Glutathione is also an excellent antioxidant for the skin, making it a beauty compound as well as a health compound.
Glutathione as a skin antioxidant
Let’s begin with your liver
We never tire of talking about the liver here at True Nature! It is, in fact, the Maserati of your body’s organs. Its health and vitality are required for thousands of functions in the body. One of those functions is the production of glutathione. With the amino acids glutamine, cysteine and glycine, your liver produces enzymes that synthesize these amino acids into glutathione. The liver then mobilizes glutathione into the bloodstream where it is delivered to the mitochondria of your body’s cells to utilize as an antioxidant.
Antioxidants are necessary to combat the potent and damaging effects of free radicals in the body. Literally, their effects cause cellular rusting, similar to that of metal rusting. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural byproduct within our cells occurring from the production of energy. While harmless on its own, in the presence of/combination with an oxygen radical and an iron compound, a reactive hydroxyl radical is formed. This creates cellular rusting.
Perhaps most concerning is the ability of these free radicals to bind and damage polyunsaturated fatty acids located around our cells. When free radicals bind to and park themselves within the fats, they steal electrons and then damage their structure, resulting in a process called lipid peroxidation. This is akin to leaving vegetable oil cooking in a pan for too long - it begins to smoke, turn brown and oxidize. Free radicals can also act like tiny grenades, blowing holes in the protective fatty membranes of our cells.
Unfortunately, we are seeing a statistical rise in liver conditions and diseases. Why? Essentially…we are overburdened with toxins, not binding them efficiently and in many cases, not successfully completing all 3 phases of liver detoxification. Stress, other significant diseases (especially COVID) and poor nutritional practices have resulted in a staggering number of 100,000,000 American adults with some form of liver disease. Fatty liver disease is among the leading causes of death from liver disease, as it progresses into liver failure and liver cancer. Death rates from liver disease are 4 times higher than they were in 1970.
Increase in death rates from liver and other diseases 1970-2018
A healthy liver requires, first and foremost, the proper personalized nutrition for each individual, alongside clean, sustainably-sourced food. All of your metabolic systems are dependent upon adequate macronutrients for your personal needs. This creates optimized ATP production and assures the right proportions of protein - i.e. amino acids - will be delivered to your liver. Liver function essentially equals amino acid conjugation.
Next in line for liver health is keeping the blood as clear of toxins and debris as possible. The liver filters these substances from the body and the more we “push” it with overload, the more tired and diminished it will be. The liver also depends upon a healthy, clear duct between itself and the gallbladder. Why? because it will store a certain amount of toxin there to be released when we consume food. If these tissues accumulate too much debris and bile becomes thick and sticky, this well-designed process will be compromised. Consumption of cholagogic foods, such as beets, beet greens, artichokes and sun chokes helps to improve the quality of the bile and smooth operation of the duct, as can coffee enemas. Adequate hydration is also key to liver health, helping the blood of the body to flow more easily for filtration through the liver.
Glutathione and the mitochondria
The mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power all cells’ biochemical reactions. Chemical energy produced by the mitochondria is stored in a small molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Their health and optimal functionality are paramount to keeping the body running. This includes supporting the transport of glutathione from other areas of the cell across the membrane into its center. This is done via a protein transporter which becomes unregulated when there is insufficient glutathione inside the mitochondria.
Mitochondria shuttling glutathione
Among the arsenal of antioxidants and detoxifying enzymes existing in mitochondria, mitochondrial glutathione is the main line of defense for the maintenance of the appropriate mitochondrial redox environment to avoid or repair oxidative modifications leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.
While the mitochondria are the holding tanks, essentially, for glutathione, as well as the regulation centers, glutathione is synthesized in the cell’s cytosol. Synthesis requires ATP - this is how ATP is generated.
Glutathione and the immune system
Glutathione plays a very important role in the immune system, most notably in relationship with TGF-β. There is a teeter-totter balance that occurs between glutathione and TGF-β which keeps each of them at a healthy level. TGF-β is an inflammatory cytokine in the immune system. All cytokines play important modulatory roles, increasing inflammation in the presence of pathogens in order to allow attack and clearance. Their modulation and adherence to the Bell curve are the keys to health; failure of these mechanisms results in immune inflammation. TGF-β is the most potent and ubiquitous pro-fibrogenic cytokine and its expression is increased in almost all fibrotic tissue disorders and diseases. TGF-β increases reactive oxygen species production and decreases the concentration of glutathione. Likewise, increased concentrations of glutathione help to reduce elevated levels of TGF-β. This balance is a key influence of glutathione.
TGF-β is expressed in almost every cell type in the body. Cell survival, metabolism, growth, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration, and death are all under the regulation of TGF-β. Proper TGF-β signaling is critical to the normal functioning and homeostasis of a healthy body, whereas aberrant TGF-β signaling can lead to numerous diseases, including cancer. Any significant immune stress lacks a successfully resolved Bell curve may lead to abnormal levels.
The most common fibrotic diseases are idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), arteriosclerosis, myocardial scars, liver cirrhosis, renal glomerulosclerosis.and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, fibrotic changes can occur anywhere in the body and compromise tissue integrity. Glutathione regulates TGF-β-stimulated collagen production in fibroblasts.
What depletes glutathione?
Glutathione may be depleted through any of the following:
Injury
Chronic illness
Poor sleep
Pharmaceutical medicines
Poor nutrition
Stress
Aging, especially accelerated
Alcohol
Toxicity plus the potential for constantly recirculating toxins
Inflammation
A special note on depletion: Here at True Nature, we care about and include the consideration of pyroluria in our functional approach. Depletion of glutathione increases the accumulation of protein-bound pyrroles in the liver. These are the most toxic of the pyrrole compounds. So, as is noted in pyroluria, the condition can come and go in accordance with layered stresses. Depletion of glutathione via any of the above means may trigger a pyroluric episode for someone with this disorder.
What increases glutathione and when to utilize IVs and/or nebulizers
Avoidance and/or binding of environmental toxins, including heavy metals, smoke, charred foods, solvents, pesticides and petroleum products/exhaust
Milk thistle, lipoic acid, selenium and NAC
Foods, including: A2 dairy, sulfur-rich vegetables such as onions, garlic & cruciferous, animal protein, eggs, spinach, parsley, soybeans, seaweed, amaranth, Brazil nuts and sesame seeds
Glutathione supplements, IVs and/or nebulizing (more on these below)
Now, let’s talk about the last item on that list. The tricky part of supplementing with glutathione is getting it into the cells. Here’s why:
It breaks down in the intestinal tract and liver (acidic pH)
Small amounts reach the blood
It doesn't “store” well/breaks down when exposed to heat and light
When orally administered, the large glutathione tripeptide isn't absorbed
Standard glutathione supplements are not highly bioavailable, thus a sublingual, liposomal or microencapsulated formula (polymerized whey protein) form is needed.
For those with acute conditions requiring immediate and more potent delivery of glutathione, IVs or “pushes” are advisable. These must be done with a licensed medical professional. I always advise clients to begin at the lowest possible dose in order to prevent excess stimulation of detoxification and associated negative symptoms such as headache, malaise and fatigue. With most ND’s, this is 3 cc’s, but the ND can advise on your personal recommendations.
Mold toxicity is a situation in which this approach with glutathione is extremely helpful. Those with low mold antigen response (inherent/genetic and present for life) will accumulate high amounts of mycotoxins with exposure to mold. Without glutathione, the toxic & ROS damage is significant. Delivering a higher amount of glutathione directly into the bloodstream and mitochondria can dramatically support recovery. (Note: exposure to the mold source absolutely must be stopped to achieve full recovery)
Nebulizing glutathione is also advised with a recent mold exposure, due to the spores entering through the respiratory tract/lungs. Wildfire smoke exposure is another scenario in which nebulizing is helpful and appropriate. Of course, any diagnosed lung/respiratory disease calls for delivery into the lungs as well.
Here is a resource for obtaining medical evaluation and prescription for liquid glutathione/dosing if appropriate: https://www.goodlifemeds.com/products/glutathione?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_ZC2BhAQEiwAXSgClhuQ0XRq62prhzxDFie8-jK3OLGVlrg0GvBnYNK60wztuusbLbbIKRoC_UwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Additionally, here is an excellent video for learning how to use a nebulizer if medically indicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9sGxhhzOjA
Lastly, you may find peer-reviewed research on the use of nebulized glutathione in lung stress/disease here.
Summations and solutions
Glutathione is a necessary and important endogenous antioxidant in the body. Without it, many serious (and some life-threatening) diseases may develop. In order to attain adequate levels in our bodies, we need sufficient protein (amino acids),a healthy liver, balanced immunity and healthy mitochondria.
We need to attend to the following:
Establish nutritional practices to optimize mitochondrial health and ATP production
Test for glutathione status. Some of the possibilities here include GGT, amino acids, whole blood glutathione, lipid peroxides and 8-OHdG. Adjunct/related testing might include TGF-β, hair & tissue mineral analysis and methylation markers. Retest appropriately
Apply the necessary therapeutics to support glutathione levels and synthesis. These may include special preparations of glutathione, building blocks for glutathione including specific foods and binders
A healthy body requires adequate glutathione. Anti-aging with strength and vitality requires glutathione. DNA repair requires glutathione. Contact me at Julie@truenaturehealthconsulting.com for more information on assessing your personal status. We provide holistic telehealth services.